New Player Guide

Amtgard is a fantasy based live role playing organization with a large focus on medieval combat. All of our weapons are safe, foam-padded, replicas of swords, daggers, arrows, and other medieval weapons. In addition to the fighting, we strive to better ourselves in creating new pieces of costume, armor, music, and art.

Alexar draws.

Meetings
Each Saturday afternoon we hold battlegames in Albuquerque for fun and practice. There are also several camping events that take place each year. These events can attract hundreds of people to battle, socialize, camp out, and have a good time. We also hold feasts every 3 months to honor our leaders and members that make this game a fun place to be on weekends.

Tali is wounded during battle

Combat
The rules for combat are simple: a hit to a limb disables that limb, a hit to the torso kills you, a hit to a second limb kills you, head and neck are out of bounds.

Much like Dungeons & Dragons and other role playing games there are different classes to choose from. Each class has it's own special abilities and limitations, increasing in power as you gain experience. The abilities of your class can sometimes be the only thing keeping you alive versus a more skilled opponent or a horde of newbie warriors.

What you will need to play.

Nilifane in combat

Waiver / New Player Form
You can pick one up from the Chancellor at the weekly meeting. If you are under 18 you will need a parent/guardian to sign it. If you are under 14 you must also have a parent present and get special permission from Pegasus Valley's monarch.

Amtgard Rulebook
The rulebook can be downloaded for free. You can also get a rulebook from Pegasus Valley's Chancellor by paying $10 in dues, which includes 6 months of voting rights and newsletters.

Harkilar prepares to Berserk

Amtgard Legal Weapon
You won't need one of these right away, there will be some loaner swords at the park for new people to use. Once you have figured out what style of weapons you want to use, ask someone to help you make your first weapons or come to an Arts & Sciences meeting where many people will be making weapons. A little bit of help from experienced players can prevent "first weapon syndrome" so that you have a safe weapon to hit people with.

Costume / Garb
For your first month it is not necessary to have garb. After that, a basic tabard or tunic plus a class sash is the minimum garb and can be put together for $2 in materials. If you have never sewn before, come to an Arts & Sciences meeting. Then you can learn to sew or bribe someone else there with snack cakes to have them sew for you.